“It has been good for me to learn from his Holiness who has many decades of experience in these matters. I've had three days as an opposition leader,” Abbot was quoted as saying Radio Australia later during a press conference with the Tibetan leader.

Mr Abbot also recalled John Howard had met the Dalai Lama, and said he understood why people were disappointed the current Prime Minister Kevin Rudd would not do the same.

“I understand the sensitivities, the diplomatic sensitivities in these areas and there are things which opposition leaders can do which Prime Ministers find more difficult,” he said.

“But certainly prime minister Howard found the time to meet with His Holiness when he was prime minister and I think it is, I can understand why people are a little disappointed that Prime Minister Rudd can't do the same,” he added.
Mr Rudd has met the exiled Tibetan leader several times before but has declined to do so on this visit.

A spokesman for the Chinese embassy was unimpressed with Mr Abbott's decision to meet the Dalai Lama in Sydney yesterday: "We are firmly opposed to Dalai's visit for engaging in separatist activities. This position is consistent and clear."

A spokeswoman for Mr Abbott said the Opposition Leader was "a spiritual person" and had long admired the Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama expressed his happiness with meeting Mr Abbott, saying that different views and political parties were necessary to democracy, something he said was important to global humanity.

Australian federal Opposition Leader with the Dalai Lama during a press
conference in Sydney, Thursday, December 3, 2009. (Photo: Steven
Siewert/Sydney Morning Herald)

"I hope, your holiness, that all who meet with me will be equally happy," Mr Abbott said.

The Dalai Lama held Mr Abbott's hand many times during the meeting, stroking his chest as he gave him a white shawl symbolising motivation and gentle behaviour.

Latest News

Buddhist Teachings Related to the Eight Verses for Training the MindFebruary 13th 2015Copenhagen, Denmark, 12 February 2015 - A group of Danish Parliamentarians representing all eight parties present in parliament were the focus of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s first meeting this morning. He greeted them saying: “In 1973, as I was about to set out on my first trip to Europe, the BBC correspondent Mark Tully asked me why I was going and I told him that although I was a refugee I considered myself a citizen of the world."